Assessing Learner Progress

Assessing

Good assessment is like a doctor’s stethoscope, it identifies specific strengths and weaknesses with the goal of making someone better. Good assessment helps students learn better and teachers teach better. It tells us where we are on the path to mastery and what we need to do next. Assessment in the past was done entirely by the teacher. Today, in addition to teacher assessments, students learn to be involved in assessing their own learning and may be involved in digital learning environments that provide immediate online feedback.

Types of Assessment

Assessments occur before, during and after learning. Assessment is not the same as testing, although tests may be a part of assessment.

Assessment for learning - Before, during and after learning, teachers and students gather information that helps determine next steps for skill development towards the learner outcome.

Assessment as learning - Both during and after learning, the teacher encourages students to build knowledge of themselves as learners. This process of being aware of and evaluating their own thinking processes is called meta-cognition. It is a core skill for a self-directed learner.

Assessment of learning - Assessment of learning is the summation of all the learning evidence.It may come at the end of the learning or at regular points during learning. Teachers ensure students have a range of opportunities and a variety of ways to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes that confirm progress toward the learner outcome. Teachers balance this evidence in their assessment.